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no signal from referee

did my first game last week with the new Law -- no signal from the referee to put the ball in

It certainly felt a bit odd, I'd got used to giving a signal these last few seasons.

More than once the 9 forgot the change, stood there waiting for the signal, and not getting one looked round at me to see why not. At which point I nodded a signal :-) technically I suppose I should have remained sphinx-like.

What has been other people's thoughts on it ?
For me
negative - I felt I lost a bit of control on the scrum. But having said that neither team showed any signs of going back to the 'hit', but I still wonder if that's indeed what will happen over the season

positive - it gives more flexibility on positioning, eg without the need to tap the nine, you can stand a pace further back which makes it easier to check the straight put in while watch for offsides at the same time.

Re: no signal from referee

I'm not a fan of the "no signal" clause. I'm not sure what it accomplishes. In fact I think it may skew the scrum towards the team putting the ball in even more.

Currently, I stand at the front of the tunnel in the scrum and after I am happy that it is stable I step back and allow the scrum half to step in and put the ball in. That is my signal that I am happy with the scrum stability - I step out of the way. If I am on the opposite side of the scrum I point at the scrum half.

With the no signal I will still stand at the front of the tunnel then step back when I am happy that it is stable. However If I am on the other side the scrum half can immediately put the ball in, even if the scrum is not stable in their favour.

I know the response will be "FK for an early push", which I do, but usually I give the scrum a second or two to stabilize.

Re: no signal from referee

Two interesting posts. I've not done a game with it yet.

A couple of thoughts:

If you don't revert to a signal if the 9 "forgets" you either get a zombie situation or you Ping them for delay. Neither option is desitreable. certainly not for the first few weeks as we all get used to the change. So reverting to the signal seems a good idea to avoid the problem.

I think standing infront of the 9 and moving away when your happy achieves two objectives. Firstly you are in control and secondly when you move away your are effectively giving a signal.

Both [post seem to back up my thoughts about the potential problem and a solution.

Re: no signal from referee

Originally Posted by crossref

What has been other people's thoughts on it ?

My first match, no issues [aside from the fact that not one single 'against the head' ball was won ..... Booooo to WR ! ]

My second saw the nearest props jostling for regriping & then boring & bobbing up & down, was this purely the result of the need to try & get a very quick dominance from the non feeding team or give up all chance of winning against the head??? probably , but it only ended after some shared PK's & a captains general warning to YC the pair of them if they didnt desist. Oh & whilst that was happening I FK'd the feeding scrum half as it was obvious the scrum wasn't stable - yet he still lobbed the ball in !

Re: no signal from referee

The advice we got is NOT to stand in the 9s way because that defeats the object of wanting them to get it in quick if the scrum is stable straight away. MY experience is that after a couple of games the scrum only becomes unstable if the 9 'doesn't' get it in quick.
The other advice we were told is that the 9 holds the ball at chest height, but as soon as he lowers it to his knees it needs to go straight in. i.e. one fluid movement. Many of you will remember this is how it used to be.

Re: no signal from referee

At our meeting last night we were advised whilst there is no signal required anymore to put the ball in, if you are not happy with the stability there is nothing to stop you saying wait to the SH. Of course how you then tell him it's ok is another matter!